An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Leilachen

by Friedrich Kluge

Leilachen, Leilach, n., ‘sheet,’ from MidHG. lîlachen, lîlach, n., ‘bed-linen, sheet.’ The ModHG. and MidHG. word originated in lîn-lacken, which form is often recorded in MidHG. (Leinlachen in earlier ModHG.), and appears in OHG. as lîn-lahhan; lînl- was assimilated in MidHG. to lîll- and ll simplified after a long vowel. A similar course was followed by the OIc. cognate lé-rept for *línrept, *línript, ‘linen.’ The derivation of Leilachen from MidHG. lîhlachen, OHG. lîh-lahhan, ‘body-linen’ (comp. Leiche, for OHG. lîh), is less probable, because an assimilation of chl to ll, l, is scarcely credible.